AND SO IT ENDS

This page contains a letter from Alexandre Galante of Rio De Janerio, Brazil, 2 October 1998. The pictures he sent were put into a Montage by our shipmate Kent Henson as a final tribute. At this time we don't know if she has been sunk. Bill Mackey has tried his best to save her and has stayed in contact with Brazilian officials to keep us informed of her fate. Below are the full pictures showing the damage done to her as she was used for target practice by the Navy of Brazil. Kent Henson also offered the poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes he penned for the decommissioning of "Old Ironsides". It seems very fitting at this time.

Hi Bill and other shipmates!

I am sending the first photos of Lowry parked in the Naval Base of Rio de Janeiro. The photos were made last week. The ship is between two other disabled ships, what hindered a little to photograph.

We will try to do other photos in another occasion, but I believe that these can already give an idea of Lowry today. The ship is with the part of the painted prow of yellow and it is quite damaged by 4,5 inches gun shots of our frigates.

Perhaps be one of the last opportunities of seeing the whole ship, because the our Navy intends to sink it shortly in an exercise with torpedos or missiles. Sad end for a ship with so much history... The photos 3 and 4 are of the hangar and mid-ship, the areas more affected by the gun shots.

The author of the photos is my friend Marcos Silva da Costa.

Shipmates Forever,

Alexandre Galante

Here is the wording below the Montage Kent Henson made for us.

Perhaps the last pictues taken of USS LOWRY (DD-770) Naval Base, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 2 October 1998 After having served as a gunnery target, she was to be towed to sea shortly hereafter and sunk with torpedoes.

1944-1998

OLD IRONSIDES

      

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!

        
Long has it waved on high,
      
And many an eye has danced to see
        
That banner in the sky;
      

Beneath it rung the battle shout,

        

And burst the cannon's roar:

      

The meteor of the ocean air

        

Shall sweep the clouds no more!

      

Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,

        

Where knelt the vanquished foe,

      

When winds were hurrying o'er the flood

        

And waves were white below,

      

No more shall feel the victor's tread,

        Or know the conquered knee:

      

The harpies of the shore shall pluck

        

The eagle of the sea!

      

O better that her shattered hulk

        

Should sink beneath the wave!

      

Her thunders shook the mighty deep,

        

And there should be her grave:

      

Nail to the mast her holy flag,

        Set every threadbare sail,

      

And give her to the god of storms,

        

The lightning and the gale!

            

Oliver Wendell Holmes

"ODE TO 770"

The Gallant Lady who caressed our youthful hearts, And fortified our lives during many dangerous and unknown ramparts.....

While gracefully guiding us through the oceans far and deep, Thousands of distant missions She was destined to keep.....

Her "Can Do" attitude was known O"er the Seven Seas, "Cause the "LOWRY Crew" would hear Her silent pleas.....

2200 tons of steel which made Her precious heart so tender, Could be cold and tenacious, but for Her gentle Gender.....

For the Shipmates who served the "Lucky LOWRY"....."O, so well, She proudly srikes Her "Final 8 Bells"..... and confides in us, "It's time to bid you all Farewell".....

As She salutes Her Brave and Gallant Men, She slips beneath the waves for "Her Final Amen".....

Gently whispering to every Shipmate "Fear not, as You are with Me", Joining Her Men who have Fought and Fallen so Gallantly.....

She states to all Her Sons that She has Loved and Cherished, "Stand Proud, Stand Tall & Remember Those Who Have Perished".....

Shipmates Forever.....

Quartermaster Bill Mackey U.S.S. LOWRY DD-770 August 27, 1999